Information recording method and apparatus, information reproducing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

An information recording method and apparatus and an information reproducing method and apparatus in which AV data can be recorded or reproduced temporally continuously without producing fragmentation. To this end, the apparatus includes a storage unit  7  at least including a management information region and a user data region made up of plural logical blocks, and a recording unit  9  for continuously recording information signals from a recording start logical block to a recording end logical block in the user data region of the storage unit  7  and again recording information signals from the recording start logical block.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to an information recording method andapparatus, and an information reproducing method and apparatus forrecording/reproducing information signals, such as moving picture datafor a recording medium.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] In a filing system for a personal computer for controlling e.g.,a conventional hard disc drive (HDD), the main theme has been to handleinherently discrete text data. The result is that, in such file system,such a file is produced in which, due to the recording/reproducingoperations, logical addresses are constituted by non-contiguous sectors,thus producing file fragmentation due to recording/reproducingoperations.

[0005] Meanwhile, in recording/reproducing temporally continuous AVdata, such as acoustic or moving picture data, by an HDD, the continuousdata transfer rate is crucial. However, if the file isrecorded/reproduced by the above-described file system, the overheadindicating the management information such as recorded sector numbers,is voluminous, due to file fragmentation, thus consuming a lot of timefor recording/reproduction to render it impossible to assure the minimumcontinuous data transfer rate. If it is impossible to assure thecontinuous data transfer rate, there may arise an inconvenience that theinherently temporally continuous AV data cannot be reproduced temporallycontinuously.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide aninformation recording method and apparatus, and an informationreproducing method and apparatus for recording/reproducing temporallycontinuous AV data without producing the above-mentioned fragmentation.

[0007] In one aspect, the present invention provides an informationrecording apparatus including a disc-shaped recording medium at leasthaving a management information region and a user data region made up ofa plurality of logical blocks, and recording means for continuouslyrecording information signals in the user data region of the storagemeans from a recording start logical block to a recording end logicalblock and for again recording the information signals from the recordingstart logical block.

[0008] With the present information recording apparatus, informationsignals are continuously recorded by recording means in the logicalblocks of the disc-shaped recording medium.

[0009] In another aspect, the present invention provides an informationrecording method for recording information signals on a disc-shapedrecording medium at least having a management information region and auser data region made up of a plurality oflogical blocks, includingcontinuously recording information signals in the user data region froma recording start logical block to a recording end logical block of thedisc-shaped recording medium and again recording the information signalsfrom the recording start logical block.

[0010] With the present information recording method, informationsignals are continuously recorded in the logical blocks of thedisc-shaped recording medium.

[0011] In a further aspect, the present invention provides aninformation recording/reproducing apparatus including a disc-shapedrecording medium at least having a management information region and auser data region made up of a plurality of logical blocks, recordingmeans for continuously recording information signals in the user dataregion of the storage means from a recording start logical block to arecording end logical block and for again recording the informationsignals from the recording start logical block, and reproducing meansfor reproducing information signals stored in the recording means. Therecording means and the reproducing means records information signals inthe user data region of the disc-shaped recording medium, whilereproducing the information signals recorded in the user data region ofthe disc-shaped recording medium.

[0012] In this information recording/reproducing apparatus, informationsignals are continuously recorded in logical blocks of the disc-shapedrecording medium, while continuously recorded information signals arereproduced.

[0013] In yet another aspect, the present invention provides aninformation recording/reproducing method including continuouslyrecording information signals from a recording start logical block to arecording end logical block on a disc-shaped recording medium having amanagement information region and a user data region made up of aplurality of logical blocks, and again recording information signalsfrom the recording start logical block, and reproducing the informationsignals recorded in the user data region of the disc-shaped recordingmedium.

[0014] In this information recording/reproducing method, informationsignals are continuously recorded in logical blocks of the disc-shapedrecording medium, while continuously recorded information signals arereproduced.

[0015] In the information recording method and apparatus of the presentinvention, the information signals are continuously recorded from thelogical block of the leading end logical address to the trailing endlogical block and are again recorded as from the logical block of theleading end logical address, thus enabling data to be recordedtemporally continuously in the user data region. Thus, with the presentinformation recording method and apparatus, continuity of recorded datais assured, there being no risk of fragmentation of recorded data. Sinceno data fragmentation is produced, the data overhead can be reduced toimprove the continuous data transfer rate during reproduction.

[0016] Also, with the information recording/reproducing method andapparatus of the present invention, information signals are continuouslyrecorded from the continuously recorded from the logical block of theleading end logical address to the trailing end logical block and areagain recorded as from the logical block of the leading end logicaladdress, while the information signals recorded are reproduced. Thus,with the present information recording/reproducing method and apparatus,continuity of the recorded data is assured, while information signalscan be reproduced temporally continuously. Thus, with the presentinformation recording/reproducing method and apparatus, there is no riskof fragmentation produced in the recorded information signals. Also,with the present information recording method and apparatus, since nodata fragmentation is produced, it is possible to reduce the overhead ofthe information signals, thereby improving the continuous data transferrate during reproduction. In addition, with the present informationrecording method and apparatus, the user data region of the recordingmedium can be split into plural regions for recording/reproduction, thefrequency of recording can be hierarchized, thus realizing diversifiedapplication.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an illustrative structure of aninformation recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the presentinvention.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing a file system housed in a ROM.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a schematic view for illustrating the contents of a rootarea of a file system.

[0020]FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the contents of a TOC area ofthe file system.

[0021]FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the contents of a defect listarea of the file system.

[0022]FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing an illustrative structure of anAV cluster stored in the user data region.

[0023]FIG. 7 is a schematic view for illustrating the capacity of an AVcluster in each recording mode.

[0024]FIG. 8 is a schematic view for illustrating audio data stored inthe AV cluster.

[0025]FIG. 9 is a schematic view for illustrating a still picturecluster stored in audio data.

[0026]FIG. 10 is a conceptual view for illustratingrecording/reproduction with twice the capacity of the AV data area andthe memo data area in the information recording/reproducing apparatushaving two HDDs.

[0027]FIG. 11 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing on startupof an information recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the presentinvention.

[0028]FIG. 12 is a flowchart for illustrating the updating processingfor updating a root area in the processing on startup of an informationrecording/reproducing apparatus embodying the present invention.

[0029]FIG. 13 is a flowchart for illustrating the updating processingfor the TOC area and the defect list area in the processing on startupof an information recording/reproducing apparatus embodying the presentinvention.

[0030]FIG. 14 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing forreproducing AV data by an information recording/reproducing apparatusembodying the present invention.

[0031]FIG. 15 is a flowchart for illustrating the processing forrecording AV data by the information recording/reproducing apparatusembodying the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Referring to the drawings, preferred embodiments of the presentinvention will be explained in detail.

[0033]FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an illustrative structure of aninformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1 embodying the presentinvention. The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, shown inFIG. 1, includes an antenna 2 for receiving digital data of the MovingPicture Experts Group System (MPEG system), an antenna 3 for receivinganalog signals of, for example, the National Television System Committee(NTSC) system, a signal processing circuit 4 for signal-processingdigital data and analog data received over antennas 2, 3, respectively,and a host bus 5 as a common bus for information transmission. Theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1 also includes aninterfacing buffer 6 for mediating information transmission between thesignal processing circuit 4 and the host bus 5, a hard disc drive (HDD)7, having a recording medium for recording the information thereon, andan AT attachment adapter (ATA) 8 for mediating information transmissionbetween the host bus 5 and the HDD 7.

[0034] The host bus 5 is a parallel transmission line for transmissionof the information among various parts of the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1.

[0035] The interfacing buffer 6 mediates transmission of an audio and/orvisual digital data stream, referred to hereinafter simply as AV data,between the signal processing circuit 4 and the host bus 5. For example,the interfacing buffer 6 converts the transfer rate of the AV data oradjusts the transfer timing. This interfacing buffer 6 has an internal2-bank RAM which is made up of two RAMs alternately switched foradjusting information transmission.

[0036] The HDD 7 is a is a disc apparatus for recording input AV data.The ATA adapter 8 is interposed between the host bus 5 and the HDD 7 forconversion between parallel data of the host bus 5 and the data-formatdata of the HDD 7.

[0037] The HDD 7 includes an internal recording medium for recording AVdata. On this recording medium is recorded AV data multiplexed by amultiplexer 19 in accordance with a file system which will be explainedsubsequently. If loaded with a magnetic disc as a recording medium, theHDD 7 includes a magnetic head for recording temporally continuous AVdata on the magnetic disc.

[0038] When recording continuous AV data on the magnetic disc, the HDD 7causes the magnetic head to scan the magnetic disc from the outer rimtowards the inner rim thereof to follow the tracks formed on themagnetic disc. When data has been recorded from the outermost rim to theinnermost rim, the HDD 7 causes the magnetic head to be moved again tothe outermost rim to record AV data. At this time, a routine HDD againrecords the information from the outermost rim after lapse of the timeduring which the magnetic head is moved from the innermost rim to theoutermost rim and the rotational waiting time until the time of reachingthe logical block address of initiating the recording. However, withthis HDD 7, the rotational waiting time until the recording startinglogical block address is set to zero to assure temporal AV datacontinuity.

[0039] That is, with the magnetic head in this HDD 7, the rotationalwaiting time is set to zero by calculating the position of the logicalblock address for recording starting arrayed at the outermost rim. Thatis, if the time for one complete revolution of the magnetic disc is r,the seek time until the magnetic head is moved from the innermost rim tothe outermost rim is t, the angle through which the magnetic disc isrotated during this skew time t (skew angle) is θ, the sector number isn and the number of sectors for cone complete revolution is n₀,

θ>t/rX360°  (1)

[0040] and

n=(t/rXn ₀)−α  (2)

[0041] In the above equation (2), α is the number of sectors of rotationduring the time needed for the HDD 7 to construe a command from a CPUsince the inputting of the command and to set the command in eachcircuit in the HDD 7. That is, the equation (1) indicates that, if theseek time t is approximately 5 ms and the time for one completerevolution r is approximately 10 ms, the skew angle is approximately180°, meaning that the recording starting logical block address may bepositioned with an offset of approximately 180° from the recording endlogical block address. The sector number corresponding to the recordingstarting logical block address can be calculated by substituting apre-set numerical value into the equation (2). Therefore, it is possiblewith the present HDD 7 to record non-interrupted data even in case oftemporally continuous recording.

[0042] The information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 also includesthe CPU 9 as a central processing unit for concentrated informationprocessing, a RAM 10 as a volatile memory and a ROM 11 as a non-volatilememory.

[0043] The CPU 9 controls a series of operations of the informationrecording method by the present information recording/reproducingapparatus 1, such as data transfer or control operations for the HDD 7,by software control. The software, starting this series of operations,is recorded in, for example, a ROM 11, and is occasionally read out forexecution. This CPU 9 operates under the reduced instruction setcomputer (RISC) system such that the CPU is a reduced instruction setcomputer in which the basic commands are simplified to reduce the numberof commands for improving the processing speed.

[0044] This CPU 9 is connected to an actuating input unit, such as akeyboard, not shown, so that it is fed with an actuating input signalfrom the user. The CPU 9 is fed with an actuating input signal forcommanding the recording and reproduction of, for example, AV data, tocontrol the various portions of the information recording/reproducingapparatus 1 responsive to the actuating input signal.

[0045] In the ROM 11 is stored a file system as a control program aslater explained. The file system, stored in the ROM 11, is read by theCPU 9. The CPU 9 reading this file system controls therecording/reproduction for the HDD.

[0046] The RAM 10, connected to the host bus 5, is a volatile memory fortransient data storage. The ROM 11, connected to the host bus 5, is anon-volatile memory in which pre-set data and the software are recorded.

[0047] In the RAM 10 are stored a root, stored in the HDD 7 duringstartup and recording/reproduction, and the management informationindicating the TOC. This management information is incidentally updatedby the CPU 9 during startup and recording/reproduction.

[0048] The signal processing circuit 4 includes a tuner 15, fed withsignals via antenna 3 receiving video and audio signals of the analogsystem, an A/D conversion circuit 16 for converting video signalsentering the tuner 15 into digital data, and an NTSC decoder 17 fed withdigital system video signals from the A/D conversion circuit 16. Thesignal processing circuit 4 also includes an MPEG2 encoder 18 fed withthe video signals converted into baseband signals by the NTSC decoder 17and a multiplexer 19 of the MPEG system of the digital system.

[0049] This signal processing circuit 4 also includes an A/D conversioncircuit 20 fed with audio signals entering the tuner 15 and an MPEG1encoder 21 fed with audio signals converted into digital signals by theA/D conversion circuit 20.

[0050] The tuner 15 is fed with, for example, NTSC signals received bythe antenna 3. The tuner 15 receives and detects the video and audiosignals received by the antenna 3. The tuner 15 outputs the detectedvideo signals to the A/D conversion circuit 16 while outputting theaudio signals to the A/D conversion circuit 20.

[0051] The A/D conversion circuit 16 A/D converts the video signals fromthe video input terminal or the tuner 15 into video data. The A/Dconversion circuit 16 also outputs the video data of, for example, theNTSC system to the NTSC decoder 17.

[0052] The NTSC decoder 17 is fed with the video data of the NTSC systemfrom the A/D conversion circuit 16. This NTSC decoder 17 expands theinput video data to generate baseband signals. The NTSC decoder 17outputs the baseband signals to the MPEG2 encoder 18 via terminal 1 of aswitch 22.

[0053] The MPEG2 encoder 18 compresses the baseband signals from theNTSC decoder 17. At this time, the MPEG2 encoder compresses the inputbaseband signals into digital data of the MPEG2 system. This MPEG2encoder 18 encodes the input baseband signals at a compression ratespecified by the CPU 9 so as to be an integer number multiple of thelogical sector of the recording medium. That is, the MPEG2 encoder 18performs compression so that the maximum data value of the input GOPand/or the I-frame will be data volume equal to an integer numbermultiple of the logical sector of the recording medium.

[0054] The MPEG2 encoder 18 is fed with baseband signals from an MPEG2decoder 24 via terminal 2 of the switch 22 and terminal 2 of the switch26. This MPEG2 encoder 18 encodes the baseband signals from the MPEG2decoder 24 at a pre-set compression rate.

[0055] The tuner 15 outputs audio signals, among the input signals fromthe antenna 3, to the A/D conversion circuit 20. The A/D conversioncircuit 20 A/D converts the input audio signals to audio data. This A/Dconversion circuit 20 outputs the audio data to the MPEG1 encoder 21.

[0056] The MPEG1 encoder 21 compresses the audio data from the A/Dconversion circuit 20 to output the compressed data to the multiplexer19.

[0057] The multiplexer 19 multiplexes the video data from the MPEG2encoder 18 and the audio data from the MPEG1 encoder 21. The multiplexer19 compresses the MPEG signals along the time axis to VAVAVA . . . inGOP time units, where V and A are video data and audio data,respectively. The multiplexer 19 outputs the multiplexed AV data to theinterfacing buffer 6.

[0058] The multiplexer 19 is fed via interfacing buffer 6 with AV datarecorded on a recording medium in the HDD 7. The multiplexer 19 splitsthe AV data entering from the interfacing buffer 6 into video data andaudio data. This multiplexer 19 outputs the video data obtained onsplitting via terminal 2 to a multiplexer 32 via terminal 2 of theswitch 34 and to the MPEG2 decoder 24 via terminal 1 of the switch 23.The multiplexer 32 outputs the audio data obtained on splitting to themultiplexer 32 via a delay circuit 33 and to an MPEG1 decoder 25.

[0059] The signal processing circuit 4 includes an antenna 2 forreceiving digital data of the MPEG system, a set top box STB 30, adigital I/F circuit 31, the multiplexer 32 and the delay circuit 33.

[0060] The antenna 2 again receives digital data of, for example, theMPEG system. This antenna 2 outputs the received digital data as RFsignals to the STB 30.

[0061] The STB 30 receives and detects the digital data from the antenna2 at a front end. The STB 30 descrambles the scrambled digital data tooutput the resulting descrambled data to the digital I/F circuit 31.

[0062] The STB 30 is fed from the digital I/F circuit 31 with digitaldata. The STB 30 has an MPEG decoder enclosed therein. The STB 30decodes the digital data from the digital I/F circuit 31, using the MPEGdecoder to expand the compressed video data and audio data forconversion to video signals and audio signals.

[0063] The digital I/F circuit 31 has a physical layer/link layerprocessing circuit and performs signal processing, such as signalconversion, on digital data from the STB 30, to output the processeddata to the multiplexer 32.

[0064] The digital I/F circuit 31 is also fed with digital datamultiplexed from the video data and the audio data from the multiplexer32. This digital I/F circuit 31 outputs the digital data to the STB 30.

[0065] The multiplexer 32 splits the digital data from the digital I/Fcircuit 31 into video data and audio data. The multiplexer 32 outputsthe video data obtained on splitting to the MPEG2 decoder 24 viaterminal 1 to the switch 34 and via terminal 2 of the switch 23. Thismultiplexer 32 outputs the audio data to the delay circuit 33.

[0066] The multiplexer 32 is fed with video data from the multiplexer 19via switch 34 and with audio data via the delay circuit 33. Themultiplexer 32 multiplexes the input video and audio data to output themultiplexed data to the digital I/F circuit 31.

[0067] The delay circuit 33 adjusts the delay of the audio data from themultiplexer 32. This delay circuit 33 delays the input video or audiodata to adjust the time difference between the input video and audiodata to output the audio data to the multiplexer 32.

[0068] The delay circuit 33 is fed as input only with audio data amongthe video and audio data as split by the multiplexer 19. The delaycircuit 33 adjusts the delay with respect to the video data to outputthe audio data to the multiplexer 32.

[0069] The signal processing circuit 4 includes the MPEG2 decoder 24 fedwith video data via terminal 2 of the switch 23, the MPEG1 decoder 25fed with audio data obtained on splitting by the multiplexer 19, and anNTSC encoder 27 fed with video data decoded by the MPEG2 decoder 24 viaterminal 1 of the switch 26. The signal processing circuit 4 alsoincludes a D/A conversion circuit 28 fed with data encoded by the NTSCencoder 27 and a D/A converting circuit 29 fed with audio data decodedby the MPEG1 decoder 25.

[0070] The MPEG2 decoder 24 is fed via terminal 1 of the switch 23 withvideo data obtained in such a manner that the AV data recorded on theHDD 7 is read out by the data transfer software of the CPU 9 and splitvia ATA adapter 8, host bus 5 and interfacing buffer 6 by themultiplexer 19. This MPEG2 decoder 24 expands the compressed input videodata. Also, the MPEG2 decoder 24 is fed video data via terminal 2 of theswitch 23 from the multiplexer 32. The MPEG2 decoder 24 outputs to theswitch 26 the video data obtained on expanding the input video data.

[0071] The switch 23 is controlled so that it is coupled to the terminal2 or to the terminal 1 when the video data from the multiplexer 32 isentered to the MPEG2 decoder 24 or when the video data from themultiplexer is entered to the MPEG2 decoder 24, respectively.

[0072] Also, the switch 26 is controlled so that it is couped to theterminal 2 or to the terminal 1 when video data from the MPEG2 decoder24 is outputted to the switch 22 or to the NTSC encoder 27,respectively.

[0073] The NTSC encoder 27 is fed via terminal 1 of the switch 26 withvideo data decoded by the MPEG2 decoder 24. This NTSC encoder 27compresses the input video data by the NTSC system to output thecompressed data to the D/A conversion circuit 28.

[0074] The D/A conversion circuit 28 D/A converts the video data fromthe NTSC encoder 27 into video signals. This D/A conversion circuit 28outputs the video signals to a video output terminal.

[0075] The MPEG1 decoder 25 is fed with audio data obtained on splittingby the multiplexer 19. This MPEG1 decoder 25 expands the input audiodata. This MPEG1 decoder 25 outputs the expanded audio data to the D/Aconverting circuit 29.

[0076] The D/A converting circuit 29 D/A converts the audio data fromthe MPEG1 decoder 25 into audio signals. This D/A converting circuit 29outputs the audio signals to an audio output terminal.

[0077] When recording the digital data of the MPEG system received bythe antenna 2 on the recording medium in the HDD 7, the signalprocessing circuit 4 outputs the digital data via STB 30 and digital I/Fcircuit 31 to the multiplexer 32.

[0078] The multiplexer 32 separates the input digital data into videodata and audio data. The multiplexer 32 outputs the audio data to thedelay circuit 33.

[0079] Also, the multiplexer 32 outputs the video data via switch 34 andswitch 23 to the MPEG2 decoder 24. At this time, control is made so thatthe movable contacts of the switches 34, 23 are set to the terminals 1and 2, respectively.

[0080] The MPEG2 decoder 24 expands the compressed video data to outputthe expanded data via switches 26, 22 to the MPEG2 encoder 18. At thistime, control is made so that the switches 26, 22 are connected to theterminal 2.

[0081] The MPEG2 encoder 18 compresses video data entered at a pre-setcompression rate. At this time, the MPEG2 encoder 18 compresses the GOPand/or the I-picture at a compression rate which is equal to an integernumber times the logical sector of the recording medium in the HDD 7.

[0082] The audio data delayed by the delay circuit 33 is outputted tothe multiplexer 19 under timing control, while the video data from them18 is outputted to the multiplexer 19.

[0083] The multiplexer 19 multiplexes the input video and audio data togenerate AV data to record the generated AV data on the recording mediumin the HDD 7 via ATA adapter 8. Thus, with the presentrecording/reproducing apparatus 1, MPEG data is recorded in terms oflogical sectors of the recording medium asa unit.

[0084] Also, when recording analog signals of the NTSC system receivedvia antenna 3 on the recording medium in the HDD 7, analog signals ofthe NTSC system are outputted to the tuner 15.

[0085] The tuner 15 detects analog signals from the antenna 3 to outputvideo signals and audio signals to the A/D conversion circuit 16 and tothe A/D conversion circuit 20, respectively. At this time, the A/Dconversion circuit 16 may be fed with video signals from a video inputterminal, while the A/D conversion circuit 20 may be fed with audiosignals from the audio input terminal.

[0086] The AID conversion circuit 16 A/D converts the input videosignals into video data which is outputted to the NTSC decoder 17.

[0087] The NTSC decoder 17 expands the video data from the A/Dconversion circuit 16 to convert the video data into baseband signalswhich are outputted to the MPEG2 encoder 18. At this time, the switch 22is controlled to be connected to the terminal 1.

[0088] The MPEG2 encoder 18 is fed via switch 22 with baseband signals.The MPEG2 encoder 18 encodes the input baseband signals into MPEG dataat a compression rate specified by the CPU 9 to form video data of theMPEG2 system. The MPEG2 encoder 18 performs encoding so that the GOPand/or the I-frame will be compressed at a rate of an integer numbermultiple of the logical sector of the recording medium in the HDD 7. TheMPEG2 encoder 18 outputs the video to the multiplexer 19.

[0089] On the other hand, the A/D conversion circuit 20, fed with audiosignals from the tuner 15, A/D converts the audio signals into audiodata which is outputted as audio data to the MPEG1 encoder 21.

[0090] The MPEG1 encoder 21 encodes the audio data from the A/Dconversion circuit 20 in accordance with the MPEG1 system to output theencoded data to the multiplexer 19.

[0091] The multiplexer 19 multiplexes the video data fed from the MPEG2encoder 18 and the audio data fed from the MPEG1 encoder 21 to generateAV data.

[0092] The multiplexer 19 records the generated AV data via interfacingbuffer 6, host bus 5 and the ATA adapter 8 on a recording medium in theHDD 7. Thus, with the present recording/reproducing apparatus 1, AV dataof the MPEG system are recorded in terms of the logical sectors of therecording medium asa unit.

[0093] When reproducing the AV data recorded on the recording medium inthe HDD 7, the AV data stored in the HDD 7 is read out by a datatransfer software started by the CPU 9 in terms of the logical sectorsof the recording medium asa unit. It is possible for the CPU 9 to readout AV data stored in the HDD 7 by, for example, various variable speedreproducing modes under software control.

[0094] In the present recording/reproducing apparatus 1, AV data readout from the HDD 7 is entered to the multiplexer 19 via ATA adapter 8,host bus 5 and interfacing buffer 6. This multiplexer 19 splits theinput AV data into video data and audio data.

[0095] When reproducing the AV data recorded on the recording medium asdigital data, the signal processing circuit 4 outputs the video datafrom the multiplexer 19 via switch 34 to the multiplexer 32, whiledelay-adjusting the audio data in the delay circuit 33 to output thedelay-adjusted data to the multiplexer 32.

[0096] The multiplexer 32 multiplexes the input audio and video data tooutput the multiplexed data to the digital I/F circuit 31. The audiodata and the video data are entered to the STB 30 and converted by theMPEG decoder in the STB 30 into audio and video signals which may bereproduced by variable-speed reproduction, seamless reproduction andnon-linear edit reproduction under software control by the CPU 9.

[0097] If the AV data recorded on the recording medium by the signalprocessing circuit 4 is to be reproduced as analog signals, video datais outputted from the multiplexer 19 via terminal 1 of the switch 23 tothe MPEG2 decoder 24.

[0098] The MPEG2 decoder 24 decodes the video data from the multiplexer19 to output the decoded data via terminal 1 of the switch 26 to theNTSC encoder 27.

[0099] The NTSC encoder 27 converts the digital data from the MPEG2decoder 24 into NTSC system video data. The NTSC encoder 27 outputs theNTSC system video data to the D/A conversion circuit 28.

[0100] The D/A conversion circuit 28 D/A converts video data from theNTSC encoder 27 into NTSC system video signals which are outputted to avideo output terminal.

[0101] The multiplexer 19 outputs the audio data to the MPEG1 decoder25, which then decodes the audio data from the multiplexer 19 to outputthe decoded data to the D/A converting circuit 29.

[0102] The D/A converting circuit 29 D/A converts audio signals from theMPEG1 decoder 25 to output the converted signals to an audio outputterminal.

[0103] Thus, when recording digital signals compressed in accordancewith the MPEG system, the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1causes the MPEG2 decoder 24 to decode the data while causing the MPEG2encoder 18 to encode the data at a pre-set compression rate equal to aninteger number multiple of the logical sectors of the hard disc forrecording. On the other hand, if fed with the NTSC system signals, theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1 causes the MPEG2 encoder18 to encode the signals for recording. Therefore, in reproducingrecorded digital data, recorded digital data can be reproduced simply byspecifying the address information of the hard disc using, for example,the data transfer hardware, thus assuring facilitated accessing to thehard disc. Thus, with the present information recording/reproducingapparatus 1, variable readout speeds can be used for reproduction, thusallowing to use a variety of reproducing systems.

[0104] In the above-described information recording/reproducingapparatus 1, a compression rate corresponding to an integer numbermultiple of the logical sector of the hard disc is used for compressionby the MPEG2 encoder 18. It is however possible with the MPEG2 encoder18 to compress data at a plurality of fixed rates. That is, if AV datacompressed and recorded on a hard disc is used for editing, thecompression rate of 8 Mbps may be used, whereas, it the data is used forSP (standard playing) or LP (long playing), the compression rates of 4Mbps or 2 Mbps may be used, respectively. If the AV data recorded on thehard disc on the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1 is to bereproduced, the data transfer software may be controlled in the CPU 9 tovary the reading capacity in order to perform reproduction as describedabove.

[0105] The file system stored in the ROM 11 is explained. FIG. 2 showsan illustrative structure of the file system 40. In this file system 40,the capacity of approximately 14 GB from the leading end LBA 0 up to thetrailing end LBA N constitutes an information area.

[0106] The file system 40 has its information area made up of a lead-inregion, a first system region, a user data region, a second systemregion and a back-up area.

[0107] The lead-in region is two sectors from the leading end LBA 0 andrepresents a rot area. Referring to FIG. 3, this root area stores astart LBA of a table-of-contents (TOC) area, a start LBA for a defectlist area, a start LBA for the user data region and a start LBA for abackup region. In this root area, there are also stored a start LBA ofan AV data area of the user data region (referred to hereinafter as arecording start LBA), a memo data area start LBA and a start LBA for theaudio data area. Thus, the root area stores the split positioninformation specifying the overall structure of the file system 40.

[0108] This root area is made up a root 1 and a root 2 and, as fail-safemeasure, the same contents are stated therein.

[0109] At the trailing end of the root area is stored an A P count whichis data incremented each time the root area is rewritten. This A P countis arranged at a position sub-dividing the lead-in region from thesystem region.

[0110] The first system region is made up of a TOC area of 1534 sectorsand a defect list area of 2560 sectors. In the TOC area and in thedefect list area, there are stored the management information for AVdata recorded in the user data region and a table for managingsecond-order defects produced in the user data region, respectively.

[0111] The TOC area may be configured similarly to that of a mini-disc(MD) and is composed of PTOC0 to 2 used for moving picture data, PTOC0to 2 used for audio data, STOC for moving pictures, an STOC for audio,MTOC and TOC reserved as a reservation area for TOC.

[0112] Referring to FIG. 4, the A P count is stored in the leading endLBA of the TOC area, and the split position information and therecording mode information on the information stored in the user dataregion are stored at back of the A P count. This recording modeinformation is the information specifying the compression rate, such asthe compression rate in the compression system.

[0113] In this TOC area, there are recorded, for every informationportion stored in the user data region, the split position informationspecifying the 4-byte start address LBA and the end LBA and the 1-byterecording mode information.

[0114] Referring to FIG. 5, the A P count is stored in the leading endLBA and a table for managing the second-order defect is stored at backof the A P count.

[0115] Referring to FIG. 2 the user data region is made up of 27249542sectors and includes an AV data area, a memo data area and an audio dataarea. The size of the respective areas of the user data regioncorresponds to the split position information stored in theabove-mentioned root area.

[0116] In this user data region, the AV data area, memo data area andthe audio data area are arrayed in this sequence from the outer rim sideof the disc-shaped recording medium. In the AV data area, memo data areaand the audio data area, addresses indicating the leading end LBA isrecorded in the root area.

[0117] In the AV data area is recorded compressed AV data. Among datarecorded in the AV data area, there are moving picture data compressedin accordance with the MPEG2 system, and data compressed in accordancewith the wavelet compression system. Also, in this AV data area, thedata are recorded with respective recording modes which will give thecompression rate of the MPEG2 compression system equal to, for example,8 Mbps, 6 Mbps, 4 Mbps and 2 Mbps. In the wavelet compression system,the data are recorded with respective recording modes which will givethe compression rate equal to, for example, 8 Mbps and 6 Mbps.

[0118] In the AV data area, mainly the moving picture data and audiodata ancillary to the moving picture data are recorded in temporalcontinuation to its recording start LBA. In this AV data area, data aresequentially recorded as from the recording start LBA and, when the AVdata has been recorded in the total area, the AV data is again recordedby overwriting as from the recording start LBA, by way of recording by aso-called ring storage structure. When reproducing the AV data recordedin this AV data area, it is reproduced by temporally continuousreproduction.

[0119] In the AV data area, moving picture data and audio data arerecorded with an AV cluster shown in FIG. 6 as a recording unit. This AVcluster is made up of a sequence header code (SH), indicating thesequence layer start synchronization code, a group-of-pictures (GOP) anda sequence end code (SE), and an audio cluster.

[0120] In the AV data area, the compression rate is selected by the CPU9 so that the compression rate of the video cluster and the audiocluster will be an integer number times the sector unit, and the videocluster and the audio cluster are compressed by this compression rateand recorded on the recording medium in the HDD 7. This AV data area has2^(n) sectors subject to selection of the compression rate.

[0121] Each GOP is made up of an I-picture, obtained on encoding usingan intra-frame prediction, a P-picture, obtained on encoding using aninter-frame forward prediction, and a B-picture obtained usingbi-directional coding. In the present embodiment, GOP parameters are setso that M=3 and N=15. That is, in the present embodiment, each GOP ismade up of 15 pictures, with the period of the I- or P-pictures being 3.The I-picture has the maximum size of a fixed capacity, with the GOPsize also being of a fixed capacity.

[0122] In the audio cluster, audio data corresponding to the GOP isstored. This audio data is compressed and recorded in accordance withthe MPEG Audio system or the ATRAC system. The audio cluster is of afixed size in meeting with a GOP. In the present embodiment, this audiocluster is compressed so that the audio cluster is made up of 24 sectorsor 12.288 kB or made up of 36 sectors or 18.432 kB if the cluster iscompressed in the MPEG audio system or in the ATRAC system,respectively. The video cluster is compressed with the compression ratebeing varied in meeting with variation in the audio cluster capacity inorder to provide for a fixed capacity of the AV cluster in its entirety.

[0123] The AV data area is recorded in the HDD 7 with a variable sizedepending on the compression rate in association with the recordingmode. If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is 8.184/8.086 Mbps(edit mode), the AV data area in its entirety is 524.288 kB (1024sectors), with the I-picture being 124.928 kB and the GOP being 512kB/524.288 kB, as shown in FIG. 7a.

[0124] If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is 6.089/5.991 Mbps(HP mode), the AV data area in its entirety is 393.216 kB (768 sectors),with the I-picture being 104.448 kB and the GOP being 380.928 KB/374.784kB, as shown in FIG. 7b.

[0125] If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is 3.994/3.895 Mbps(SP mode), the AV data area in its entirety is 262.144 kB (512 sectors),with the I-picture being 83.968 kB and the GOP being 249.856 KB/243.712KB, as shown in FIG. 7c.

[0126] If the compression rate of the MPEG2 system is 1.899/1.800 Mbps(LP mode), the AV data area in its entirety is 131.072 kB (256 sectors),with the I-picture being 43.008 kB and the GOP being 118.784 KB/112.640KB, as shown in FIG. 7d.

[0127] Of the AV data recorded in the above-mentioned AV data area, onlyspecified AV data selected by an actuating input signal by the user isrecorded. The recording format etc of the memo data area is similar tothat of the AV data area and is of the ring storage structure in whichthe data is recorded temporally continuously. The memo data area isusually smaller in capacity than the AV data area.

[0128] In the audio data area, audio data, such as still picture data,is recorded in the memo data area. In distinction from theabove-mentioned AV data area or memo data area, the audio data is notrecorded temporally continuously and are recorded/reproduced by randomaccessing.

[0129]FIG. 8 shows an example of the audio data compression system inwhich the ATRAC system is used as a compression system for audio datastored in the audio data area. The audio data recorded in this audiodata area is compressed/expanded in terms of a sound group as a unit andis recorded as a 424 byte data. Since the data is recorded on the HDD 7in terms of 512 bytes as a sector as a unit, the audio data is recordedwith the least common multiple of the 424 bytes and 512 bytes as arecording unit. In the present embodiment, the least common multiple of424 bytes and 512 bytes is 27136, so that the audio data area is made upof 27.136 KB, made up of 53 sectors and 64 sound groups.

[0130] The still picture data stored in the audio data area iscompressed in accordance with the Joint Photographic Coding ExpertsGroup (JPEG) system, and is made up of 212 sectors, as shown in FIG. 9,with four audio clusters being stored as still picture clusters. Thisstill picture cluster has a recording unit of 27.136 KB.

[0131] The second system region is constituted as a reserve area and ismade up of a CD data area of 20480 sectors and a system reserve area.

[0132] The backup region has the contents similar to those of theabove-mentioned lead-in region and first system region, as shown in FIG.2. This backup area is utilized for fail-safe measures, for example, bydirectly copying the contents of the lead-in region and the systemregion.

[0133] In distinction from the lead-in region and the system region,this backup region is designed so that the root area will be thetrailing end LBA. That is, in this backup region, the capacity from LBA0 to LBA N, for example, is fixed, so that, even if the lead-in regioncannot be reproduced by malfunctions, the backup region can be accessedto reproduce the split position information in the recording medium.

[0134] The CPU 9 stores AV data etc in the recording medium in the HDD 7in accordance with this file system 40. Also, the CPU 9 is responsive toan actuating input signal from the user to split the above-mentioned AVdata area. At this time, the CPU splits the AV data area and the memodata area responsive to the actuating input signal via the ATA adapter8. The recording format of the AV data area and the memo data area splitby the CPU 9 is of the ring storage structure, similarly to theabove-described structure, such that, if the data is sequentiallyrecorded from the leading end LBA until the AV data is recorded in theentire area, the AV data is again recorded by overwriting beginning fromthe leading end LBA. The AV data recorded in this AV data area isreproduced temporally continuously.

[0135] Therefore, in tis information recording/reproducing apparatus,plural memo data areas can be provided responsive to the actuating inputsignal from the user. The recording frequency can be hierarchicallyarranged by the provision of the plural rings.

[0136] As embodiments of the use of the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1, an AV data area is set as an area forperpetually recording the analog and digital broadcasting programs.Since the AV data area is of the ring storage structure, as describedabove, it is determined by the recording capacity as set and by thecompression rate of recorded AV data, such that overwrite recordingoccurs after lapse of a pre-set time. For example, if the capacity ofthe AV data area is for 7 hours of the AV data volume, overwritingrecording occurs after seven hours. In the AV data area having the ringstorage structure, the AV data which the user desired to keep is erasedafter lapse of seven hours. However, this inconvenience is evaded byproviding a memo data area separately from the AV data area. That is, inthe present information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, only AV datawhich the user desires to keep, among the AV data recorded in the AVdata area, is recorded in the memo data area, thus assuring longerrecoding than is possible with the AV data area. The reason is that itis possible to reduce the frequency of recording for the memo data areasignificantly as compared to that for the AV data area.

[0137] For example, in the present information recording/reproducingapparatus 1, the AV data area, the first memo data area smaller incapacity than the AV data area and the second memo data area smaller incapacity than the second memo data area are set by an actuating inputsignal from the user. If an actuating input signal for recording atleast part of the AV data in the AV data area is sent, the CPU 9 copiesand records the AV data in the first memo data area. If an actuatinginput signal for recording at least part of the AV data recorded in thefirst memo data area is supplied, the CPU 9 copies and records the AVdata in the second memo data area.

[0138] By hierarchically setting the memo data area, it is possible toreduce the frequency of recording for the second memo data area ascompared to that for the first memo data.

[0139] Also, when AV data from the multiplexer 19 is recorded on the HDD7 by generating and outputting an ATA command, the CPU 9 outputs acontrol signal to the MPEG2 decoder 24 to control the compression rate,as a result of which AV data recorded on the HDD 7 is encoded forcompression at a specified compression rate. At this time, thecompressed Av data is of such a data volume in which the maximum valueof the GOP and/or the I-frame is equal to a data volume equal to aninteger number times the logical sector of the recording medium of theHDD 7, as discussed above. This compression rate is determined dependingon the recording mode specified by the actuating input signal from theuser.

[0140] If the CPU 9 has N HDDs 7, the capacity of the AV data area andthe memo data area may be N-tupled depending on the actuating inputsignal from the user. Thus, with the present informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1, AV data can be recorded temporallycontinuously not only on a sole HDD 7 but also on plural HDDs 7. If theinformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1 has two HDDs 7 a, 7 b, asshown in FIG. 10, the capacity of the AV data area 7 c and that of thememory data area 7 d can be doubled, as shown in FIG. 10.

[0141] Also, with the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1having N HDDs 7, as described above, the number of the memo data areascan be N-tupled depending on the actuating input signal. By N-tuplingthe number of the memo data areas, it is possible to increase the depthof the hierarchical structure of the file system.

[0142] Moreover, in this information recording/reproducing apparatus 1,the AV data area can be split into an inner rim portion and an outer rimportion of the recording medium in order to effectrecording/reproduction in the shape of a letter eight on a sole HDD 7.That is, in this HDD 7, the recording in the shape of the letter eightcan be realized by recording the AV data in the outer rim portionbeginning from the outer rim side recording start LBA towards the innerrim side recording end LBA, by recording in the inner rim portionbeginning from the inner rim side recording start LBA towards the outerrim side recording end LBA and by again recording from the outer rimside on the outer rim side towards the inner rim side LBA. By recordingin the shape of the letter eight, it is possible with the presentinformation recording/reproducing apparatus 1 to reduce the seek timeof, for example, a magnetic head, to record the AV data temporallycontinuously without interruptions.

[0143] An illustrative operation of the above-described informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1 is hereinafter explained.

[0144] If fed with the power from a power source, an initializingoperation as shown in FIG. 11 is initiated. That is, in the informationrecording/reproducing apparatus 1, the CPU 9 manages control at stepST11 to read the A P count along with the split position informationstored in a root area in a lead-in region of the HDD 7.

[0145] The CPU 9 also manages control to read the contents of the rootarea from the leading end LBA 0 and LBA 1 and to reproduce the databeginning from the trailing end LBS to read the contents of the rootarea in the backup region. The CPU 9 thus proceeds to the updatingprocessing at step ST12 and thence to the processing at step ST13. Thisupdating processing will be explained subsequently.

[0146] At step ST13, the CPU 9 finds addresses of the TOC area, defectlist area and the backup region based on the split position informationstored in the root area selected by the above-mentioned updatingprocessing, before proceeding to step ST14.

[0147] At step ST14, the CPU 9 reproduces the TOC area, based on the TOCarea of the system region and the TOC area of the backup region, asfound at step ST 13, to reproduce the TOC area. At step ST 15, the CPU 9performs updating processing to update the TOC area before proceedingtoe step ST16. This updating processing will be explained subsequently.

[0148] At step ST16, the CPU 9 reproduces the defect list area of thesystem region and the backup region, based on the splitting positioninformation of the root area updated by the processing at step ST12,before proceeding toe step ST17.

[0149] At step ST17, the CPU performs the updating processing, nowexplained with reference to FIG. 12, to terminate the startupprocessing. The CPU 9 is then in a standby state.

[0150] Referring to FIG. 12, the updating processing at step ST12 isexplained. FIG. 12 is a flowchart for illustrating the updatingprocessing of the root area. First, at step ST21, the CPU 9 compares theA P count of the two root areas in the lead-in region and the A P countof two root areas in the backup region, before proceeding to step ST22.

[0151] At step ST22, of the A P counts of the root area in the lead-inregion and the A P counts in the root area in the backup region,totalling four A p counts, those having the difference equal to three ormore is disregarded, before the CPU proceeds to step ST23. That is, atstep ST22, the four A P counts are compared to one another and, if agiven A P count differs by three or more from the remaining A P counts,this A P count is excluded.

[0152] At step ST23, it is verified whether or not the A P count in thelead-in region is larger than the A P count in the backup region. If theresult is YES, the CPU proceeds to step ST24 and, if otherwise, the CPUproceeds to step ST25. That is, at this step ST23, the root area havingthe largest one of the A P counts of the plural root areas is selected.

[0153] At step ST24, the larger A P count selected at step ST23 isrecorded in the remaining area in a RAM 10 before the CPU proceeds tostep ST25.

[0154] At step ST25, only one data updated in the RAM 10 is left whilethe remaining data are cleared to terminate the updating processing inthe root area. The CPU then proceeds to step ST13.

[0155] Referring to FIG. 13, the updating processing at step ST15 and atstep ST17 is explained. FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the updatingprocessing for the TOC area and the defect list area. The processingshown in this flowchart is similar to that shown in FIG. 12. At stepST31, the A P count of the TOC area or the defect list area in the firstsystem region reproduced at step ST14 is compared to the A P count ofthe TOC area or the defect list area in the backup region before the CPUproceeds to step ST32.

[0156] At step ST32, the processing similar to that of step ST23 isperformed. That is, the A P count stored in the first system region iscompared to the A P count stored in the backup region. If the A P countstored in the first system region is larger than the A P count stored inthe backup region, the CPU proceeds to step ST 33 and, if otherwise, theCPU proceeds to step ST34.

[0157] At step ST33, the information of the TOC area or the informationof the defect list area having the larger A P count is stored in the RAM10. At step ST34, the information of the TOC area or the information ofthe defect list area for which the A P count has been verified to besmaller at the above step ST32 is erased from the RAM 10. The result isthat only one information of the TOC area or the defect list area isstored in the RAM 10.

[0158] By updating the data stored in the lead-in region, system regionand the backup region at the startup time, reliability in these regionsis maintained.

[0159] For reproducing the AV data recorded on the recording medium inthe HDD 7 in the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, anoperating input signal is sent at step ST41 from the user to the CPU 9.The CPU is responsive to this actuating input signal to interpret thesorts of the AV data before proceeding to step ST42. Among the sorts ofthe AV data, there are, for example, the contents of a picture stored inthe user data region.

[0160] At step ST42, the TOC area is reproduced from the informationstored in the root area acquired in the startup operation, depending onthe sort of the AV data acquired at step ST 41 to select the managementinformation of the contents for reproduction depending on the actuatinginput signal. The CPU 9 then proceeds to step ST43.

[0161] At step ST43, the start LBA of the AV data indicating thecontents for reproduction and the LBAs reproduced in continuation tothis start LBA are acquired, from the management information of the TOCarea selected at step ST42 by the CPU 9, before the CPU 9 proceeds tostep ST44.

[0162] At step ST44, the recording mode is acquired from the managementinformation of the TOC area selected at step ST42, before the CPU 9proceeds to step ST45. As the recording mode, there is, for example, theinformation such as the compression system and the compression rate inthe compression system.

[0163] At step ST45, the CPU 9 is responsive to the recording modeacquired at step ST44 to send the ATA playback command at a length andan interval in meeting with the recording mode to the ATA adapter 8 tostart the reproduction before the CPU proceeds to step ST46. The ATAadapter 8 is responsive to the playback command from the CPU 9 toreproduce the AV data stored in the HDD 7 to send the reproduced AV datavia host bus 5 and the interfacing buffer 6 to the multiplexer 19. Themultiplexer splits the input AV data into video data and audio datawhich are reproduced.

[0164] At step ST46, the CPU 9 verifies whether or not the totality ofthe information corresponding to the actuating input signal has beereproduced. If it is verified that the AV data corresponding to theactuating input signal has not been reproduced, the CPU reverts to stepST45 and, if otherwise, the CPU terminates the playback processing toenter the stand-by state.

[0165] When the AV data is to be recorded on a recording medium in theHDD 7 in the information recording/reproducing apparatus 1, an actuatinginput signal is sent from the user to the CPU 9 at step ST51. The CPU 9is responsive to this actuating input signal to interpret the sort ofthe AV data for recording and the recording mode before proceeding tostep ST52. Among the sorts of the AV data, there are, for example, thecontents of a picture. The recording mode may be exemplified by, forexample, the information on the compression system and the informationon the compression rate deo the compression system.

[0166] At step ST52, the CPU 9 reproduces the TOC area from theinformation stored in the root area acquired in the startup operation,responsive tot the sort of the AV data acquired at step ST51 to selectthe management information depending on the recording contentsresponsive to the actuating input signal. The CPU then proceeds to stepST53.

[0167] At step ST53, the CPU 9 acquires the recording start LBA from themanagement information of the TOC area obtained on selection at stepST52, before proceeding to step ST54.

[0168] At step ST54, the CPU 9 generates and outputs an ATA recordingcommand corresponding to the recording mode obtained at step ST51 beforeproceeding to step ST55.

[0169] At this time, the ATA adapter 8 is fed with the ATA recordingcommand from the CPU 9 and with the AV data for recording from themultiplexer 19. The ATA adapter 8 outputs to the HDD 7 the signals andAV data in meeting with the ATA recording command.

[0170] It is also possible for the CPU 19 to generate control signalsfor controlling the compression rate at the time of compressing theinformation signals by the MPEG2 encoder 18, responsive to the recodingmode obtained at step ST51 to send the generated control signals viahost bus 5, interfacing buffer 6 and multiplexer 19 to the multiplexer19.

[0171] At step ST55, the CPU 9 updates the file system 40 stored in theRAM 10 responsive to the contents newly recorded in the user data regionof the recording medium of the HDD 7 at the above step ST54. That is, atthis step ST55, the TOC area, stating the contents of the AV datarecorded in the user data region, the recording mode at the time thecontents are recorded, the recording start LBA and the recording endLBA, is updated, before the CPU proceeds to step ST56.

[0172] At step ST56, the CPU 9 verifies whether or not the totality ofthe AV data supplied from the multiplexer 19 has been recorded on therecording medium of the HDD 7. If the result at step ST56 is NO, the CPUreverts to step ST44 to record the remaining AV data. If the result atstep ST56 is YES, the CPU proceeds to step ST57.

[0173] Since the CPU 9 has updated the contents of the TOC area at stepST55, the CPU 9 at step ST57 increments the A P count stored in the TOCarea stored in the RAM 10. The CPU 9 then proceeds to step ST58.

[0174] At step ST58, the CPU 9 records the information of the TOC areastored in the RAM 10 in the TOC area in the system region of the HDD 7before proceeding to step ST59.

[0175] At step ST59, the CPU 9 records the information in the TOC areastored in the in the system region recorded at step ST58 directly in theTOC area in the backup region to terminate the recording operation toenter the stand-by state.

[0176] Thus, with the above-described recoding processing, the AV datais recorded in the user data region, while the information of the TOCarea, varied by recording the AV data, is recorded in the RAM 10 and inthe TOC area in the system region and in the backup region. It ispossible with the above-described information recording/reproducingapparatus 1 to record and reproduce the AV data simultaneously. Thus, itis possible with the present information recording/reproducing apparatus1 to record AV data in both the AV data area and in the memo data area,as the AV data recorded in the AV data area is reproduced, if the the AVdata area and the memo data area are set in recording and/orreproduction. Also, in this information recording/reproducing apparatus1, the AV data may be recorded in the AV data area or in the memo dataarea as the AV data recorded in the AV data area is reproduced.Moreover, in the present information recording/reproducing apparatus 1,AV data may be recorded only in the AV data area, as the AV data arearecorded in the memo data area is reproduced, the AV data may berecorded only in the AV data area, or the AV data may be recorded onlyin the memo data area. That is, in the information recording/reproducingapparatus 1, plural memo data areas may be set responsive to theactuating input signal from the user, and the AV data area and the memodata areas may be recorded or reproduced optionally.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information recording apparatus comprising: adisc-shaped recording medium at least having a management informationregion and a user data region made up of a plurality of logical blocks;and recording means for continuously recording information signals insaid user data region of said storage means from a recording startlogical block to a recording end logical block and for again recordingthe information signals from the recording start logical block.
 2. Theinformation recording apparatus according to claim 1 wherein saidrecording means includes splitting means for splitting a user dataregion of said disc-shaped recording medium into a plurality of dataareas, continuously recording information signals from a recording startlogical block to a recording end logical block from one data area toanother and again recording the information signals from the recordingstart logical block.
 3. The information recording apparatus according toclaim 2 wherein said recording means includes control means for varyingthe frequency of recording of said recording areas to record informationsignals.
 4. The information recording apparatus according to claim 3wherein said control means includes recording means for recording atleast a portion of information signals recorded in a first data areaamong said plural data areas in data areas other than said first dataarea.
 5. The information recording apparatus according to claim 4wherein said recording means when recording information signals recordedin said first data area in certain ones of said plural data areas varythe compression rate of the information signals for doing the recording.6. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2 whereinthere are provided n disc-shaped recording mediums and wherein saidrecording means includes means for splitting said data areas as thecapacity of the user data region of said disc-shaped recording medium isn-tupled responsive to an actuation command of said actuation inputmeans.
 7. The information recording apparatus according to claim 2wherein there are provided n disc-shaped recording mediums and whereinsaid recording means includes splitting means for splitting the userdata region of each disc-shaped recording medium into m data areasresponsive to an actuation command of said actuation input means forsplitting into n X m data areas.
 8. The information recording apparatusaccording to claim 1 wherein, if the time for one complete revolution ofthe disc-shaped recording medium is r, the seek time required for therecording means to move from the innermost rim to the outermost rim ofthe disc-shaped recording medium is t and the angle of rotation for theseek time t is θ, the recording start logical block and the recordingend logical block are positioned with a phase offset to meet therelation θ>t/rX360°.
 9. The information recording apparatus according toclaim 2 wherein said recording means splits each data area into at leasttwo regions, that is an outer rim side region and an inner rim sideregion of said disc-shaped recording medium, and wherein said recordingmeans records information signals in said outer rim side region from anouter/inner rim side recording start logical block to an inner/outer rimside recording end logical block, said recording means recordinginformation signals in said inner rim side area from the inner/outer rimside recording start logical block to an outer/inner rim side recordingend logical block.
 10. An information recording method for recordinginformation signals on a disc-shaped recording medium at least having amanagement information region and a user data region made up of aplurality of logical blocks, comprising: continuously recordinginformation signals in said user data region from a recording startlogical block to a recording end logical block of the disc-shapedrecording medium and for again recording the information signals fromthe recording start logical block.
 11. The information recording methodaccording to claim 10 wherein said recording step includes splitting theuser data region into a plurality of data areas; and continuouslyrecording information signals in each data area as from the recordingstart logical block to the recording end logical block of saiddisc-shaped recording medium and again recording information signals asfrom the recording start logical block.
 12. The information recordingmethod according to claim 11 wherein said recording step includesrecording at least a portion of information signals recorded in a firstdata area among said plural data areas in data areas other than saidfirst data area.
 13. The information recording method according to claim11 wherein said recording step includes controlling the frequency ofrecording of the information signals in each data area to hierarchizethe recording durability from one data area to another.
 14. Theinformation recording method according to claim 10 wherein said userarea region has a recording start logical block arrayed at a positioncorresponding to the time required for movement from a position of therecording start logical block to a recording end logical block.
 15. Theinformation recording method according to claim 11 wherein, whenrecording information signals on n disc-shaped recording mediums, saidrecording step includes n-tupling the capacity of the user data regionof said disc-shaped recording medium for doing the recording.
 16. Theinformation recording method according to claim 11 wherein, whenrecording information signals on n disc-shaped recording mediums, saidrecording step includes splitting the user data region of eachdisc-shaped recording medium into m data areas for splitting into n X mdata areas for doing the recording.
 17. The information recording methodaccording to claim 10 wherein said recording step includes splittingeach data area into at least two regions, namely an outer rim sideregion and an inner rim side region; and recording information signalsin an outer rim side region from an outer/inner rim side recording startlogical block to an inner/outer rim side recording end logical block andalso recording information signals in an inner rim side region from aninner/outer rim side recording start logical block to an outer/inner rimside recording end logical block.
 18. An informationrecording/reproducing apparatus comprising: a disc-shaped recordingmedium at least having a management information region and a user dataregion made up of a plurality of logical blocks; recording means forcontinuously recording information signals in said user data region ofsaid storage means from a recording start logical block to a recordingend logical block and for again recording the information signals fromthe recording start logical block; and reproducing means for reproducinginformation signals stored in said recording means; said recording meansand the reproducing means recording information signals in the user dataregion of said disc-shaped recording medium and reproducing theinformation signals recorded in the user data region of the disc-shapedrecording medium.
 19. The information recording/reproducing apparatusaccording to claim 18 wherein said recording means includes splittingmeans for splitting the user data region of said disc-shaped recordingmedium into a plurality of data areas.
 20. An informationrecording/reproducing method comprising: continuously recordinginformation signals from a recording start logical block to a recordingend logical block on a disc-shaped recording medium having a managementinformation region and a user data region made up of a plurality oflogical blocks, and again recording information from the recording startlogical block; and reproducing the information signals recorded in theuser data region of the disc-shaped recording medium.
 21. Theinformation recording/reproducing method according to claim 20 furthercomprising: splitting the user data region of said disc-shaped recordingmedium into a plurality of data areas; and recording information s insaid data area while reproducing information signals recorded in theuser data region of the disc-shaped recording medium.